• Agency claiming six-figure commission from sponsorship deal• West Ham have yet to file a defence

Matt Scott

After a season overshadowed by courtroom battles West Ham United could find themselves in court yet again. This time the Hammers have been hit with a six-figure demand by an agency claiming to have put the club into contact with its title sponsor, SBOBET.

Samson Sport Consultancy lodged its £115,000 demand at the high court on 24 April over what it alleges is unpaid "commission due to it from West Ham for the introduction by Samson to West Ham of Celton Manx Ltd, trading as SBOBET, as a sponsor".

Two unpaid invoices dated 12 January and 2 March, each for £50,000 plus VAT, were sent to the club's in-house lawyer, Roger Thompson, in respect of "agency commission: WHUFC and SBOBET principle partnership". The consultancy would also charge interest, currently running at more than £1,700.

West Ham have yet to file a defence but Vanessa Barnett, of the law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, said: "BLP's betting and gaming team have an existing relationship with both West Ham United and SBOBET. We were able to make the introduction and finalise this in short order following the insolvency of West Ham's previous sponsor."

For a club whose turnover is expected to have approached £100m a year the sum demanded is hardly significant but it will come as an embarrassment, given the litany of litigation it has recently faced. After settling Sheffield United's claim against them with a £25m out-of-court agreement, there has been talk of other claims. Among those reportedly taking legal advice were Blades players and Leeds United in respect of performance clauses in the contracts of players sold to Bramall Lane.

THE SUN: Alan Shearer will be offered a four-year deal to become Newcastle boss today. Also: Owen Coyle pledged his future to Burnley after steering them to the richest prize in club football...Dimitar Berbatov will snub a Champions League final after his FA Cup miss.

DAILY MIRROR: Alan Shearer will be offered a four-year contract to rescue Newcastle from their relegation disaster. Also: Owen Coyle yesterday led Burnley into the Premier League for the first time - and then claimed he was not interested in becoming Celtic boss.

DAILY STAR: Alan Shearer will be told today that Newcastle's wage bill must be slashed by #30million to save the club from financial disaster. Also: Owen Coyle last night led Burnley to a #60million pay-day - and then refused to rule out quitting for Celtic...Manchester City and Spurs are in a £12million head-to-head battle for Gareth Barry.

DAILY EXPRESS: Dimitar Berbatov is poised to decline the chance to be a shoot-out hero if the Champions League final goes to penalties tomorrow. Also: The fire sale is on at Newcastle as an amazing 15 top earners look set to be ditched following relegation...Owen Coyle insisted he would stay loyal to Burnley despite being installed as favourite to take over at Celtic hours after taking his team into the Premier League.

DAILY MAIL: Sir Alex Ferguson will be invited to lead his Manchester United team on to the victory podium here in Rome tomorrow night if he becomes the greatest manager in history. Also: Barcelona players have admitted Wayne Rooney is the player they fear most in tomorrow night's Champions League final in Rome...Owen Coyle led Burnley back to the the top flight for the first time in 33 years, then was immediately questioned about his future with the club.

THE INDEPENDENT: On a day when Burnley were celebrating their return to top-flight football for the first time since 1976, and the #60million bonanza that promotion brings, Newcastle United were assessing the alarming cost of dropping into the Championship. Also: Rio Ferdinand is still confident he will play in tomorrow's Champions League final despite missing Manchester United's final Premier League game against Hull City on Sunday.

THE TIMES: Burnley celebrated a £60million windfall last night after winning promotion to the Barclays Premier League and their supporters' joy increased after Owen Coyle promised to lead them into the top flight next season. Also: Theo Walcott has been caught in the middle of a club-versus-country row after he told Arsenal that he wants to play for the England senior and Under-21 teams this summer.

DAILY TELEGRAPH: Alan Shearer will today formally be offered a four-year contract by the Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, to steer the relegated club back into the Premier League, but he will be warned that swingeing cuts must be made at St James' Park. Also: A party 33 years in the planning began in style last night, with Wembley awash with Claret and Champagne corks flying up towards the famous arch.

THE GUARDIAN: Alan Shearer will meet Mike Ashley today to try to thrash out an agreement that would see him sign a four-year contract as Newcastle United's manager. Also: After 33 years spent lurching around the lower divisions and an energy-sapping campaign that has encompassed 61 matches, Burnley are a top-flight club once again.

Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra is trying to persuade Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery to come to Old Trafford.(The Sun)

Manchester City and Tottenham are battling it out for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.(Daily Star)

West Brom defender Paul Robinson says he will leave the relegated club as he wants to play in the Premier League. (Various)

Arsenal have made an £8m bid for Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland.(Daily Mirror)

Tottenham are ready to make another bid for Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov, who is currently playing for Manchester City.(The Sun)

Chelsea are confident they have beaten Inter Milan in the race to sign FC Twente striker Marko Arnautovic.(Daily Mail)

Defender Michael Turner has disappointed Liverpool by pledging his future to Hull. (Various)

Wolves have abandoned plans to sign Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone after being quoted £8m for the 22-year-old.(Daily Mail)

Rangers manager Walter Smith is set to offload midfielder Barry Ferguson this summer rather than risk him going on a free next year.(Daily Record)

Tottenham are ready to listen to offers for Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko and are set to step up their chase for Djibril Cisse.(The Guardian)

Newcastle are ready to offer Alan Shearer a four-year contract as they look to bounce back into the Premier League. (Various)

Shearer has been told that £30m must be slashed from Newcastle's wage budget following their relegation to the Championship.(Daily Star)

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray is the favourite to succeed Gordon Strachan at Celtic.(The Sun)

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has been strongly linked with the vacant manager's position at Sunderland. (Daily Mirror)

However, Strachan is not a target for Sunderland.(The Independent)

Strachan told family and friends last week that he would be standing down as Celtic manager.(Daily Record)

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov says following his FA Cup semi-final miss, he will not want to step up should the Champions League final go to a penalty shoot-out.(The Sun)

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate says the club needs to be in the Championship promotion hunt by Christmas if he is to remain in his job.(The Sun)

One person that is revelling in Burnley's promotion to the Premier League is former Labour press chief Alastair Campbell. He says Burnley's achievement was "even better than playing football in a charity match with Diego Maradona in front of 72,000 people".(The Sun)

Alan Shearer will be offered a four-year contract to rescue Newcastle from relegation disaster. If he takes up the offer, Shearer will put the entire squad up for sale.

Arsenal have made an £8million move for Fulham defender Brede Hangeland.

Carlo Ancelotti has put Jermaine Pennant on his hitlist of transfer targets for Chelsea.

Djibril Cisse became the first Sunderland starout of the door - as a £10million offer to sign him was scrapped. Aaron Mokoena will leave Blackburn and sign a three-year deal with Portsmouth.

Steve Bruce is favourite to be the next Sunderland boss. Kevin Blackwell may quit Sheffield United in the wake of their play-off final defeat. Gareth Southgate is willing to take the flak from Middlesbrough fans as he prepares for an exodus. Paul Robinson will quit West Brom after relegation. Javier Mascherano is praying Liverpool can sign Carlos Tevez - without sacrificing Xabi Alonso.

Owen Coyle pledged his future to Burnley after steering them to the richest prize in club football. Alan Shearer will be offered a four-year deal to become Newcastle boss. Kevin Blackwell admits that he may quit Sheffield United after his second dose of play-off misery in three years.

The fire sale is at Newcastle as an amazing 15 top earners look set to be ditched following relegation.

Owen Coyle insisted he would stay loyal to Burnley despite being installed as favourite to take over as Celtic hours after taking his team to the Premier League. Damien Duff has pledged to do all he can to get Newcastle back in the Premier League and is keen to do it with Alan Shearer as manager.

Gareth Southgate has until Christmas to prove he is the right manager to take Middlesbrough back into the Premier League.

DAILY RECORD

Gordon Strachan quit as Celtic boss after secretly making up his mind to leave before losing the title shoot-out.

Shunsuke Nakamura jetted out of Glasgow refusing to comment on his future.

Walter Smith has dropped a heavy hint Barry Ferguson will leave Ibrox in the summer.

Hamilton boss Billy Reid has fixed up Martin Canning and Joel Thomas on new contracts.

Jarvo wrote:Just seen on SSN - Jermaine Beckford placed on transfer list - worth a punt? Not seen him play myself, but understand he is rated as a decent prospect

Jarvo,..34 goals in 37 starts in all comps. this season is some return.-though lower division opposition I know.Saw him when Leeds came down to Colchester this season, - very very quick, had about four one on ones with the keeper on the day, though finishing let him down for once! Leeds scorer was Luciano Becchio 25 year old argie. The two together were awesome.So in answer to your question a definate Yes! well worth a punt and possibly available for £3m?, - a London boy toboot.

natrasleep wrote:Beckford was blinding when he played at Scunthorpe, not sure he is premiership stuff, but he is wasted at L*eds

Beckforrd is a good player and has done O.k at leeds, in my opinion. If we could get him for around £2/3m then we should as he is a good player and would be a lot better than DDM/Tristan as our 3rd striker.